ARFD already collected 70 thousand signatures against ratification of ProtocolsJanuary 13, 2010 - 22:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - ARF Dashnaktsutyun launched signature campaign against ratification of RA-Turkish Protocols as it expected the Constitutional Court to pass positive decision, member of the ARFD Supreme Body Armen Rustamyan says."I am ready to personally meet with every single MP to talk him out of voting for Protocols," he told Wednesday a news conference in Yerevan, adding that the party has already collected 70.000 signatures. Mr. Rustamyan also criticized Armenian National Congress (ANC) for accusing ARFD of alleged cooperation with authorities. The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD) is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia) in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian ARFD has the largest number of members from the political parties present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in more than 200 countries. The party led the effort toward the establishment of the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its leadership exiled. In the Diaspora, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence; it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework aimed at preserving the Armenian identity. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the dissolution of USSR, in 1990. On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun were "temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In view of the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the Armenian authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On February 9, 1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then President Ter-Petrosyan, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. Top stories Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. |